Jonathan Ericsson has opportunity to play with Nicklas Lidstrom on Red Wings' top defense pairing

DETROIT -- Ian White's injury will give Jonathan Ericsson an opportunity to play alongside Nicklas Lidstrom on the Detroit Red Wings' top defense pairing Tuesday in St. Louis (8 p.m., Fox Sports Net Detroit) and, if all goes well, during the four-game road trip that continues in California.

White is out 1-2 weeks with a fractured cheek bone.

Ericsson has been playing with Jakub Kindl on the third pairing but also been partnered with Lidstrom on the penalty kill. Ericsson will move from the left side to the right side now at even strength. Ericsson has no goals, one assist and a plus-3 rating in 15 games.

Coach Mike Babcock said after Monday's practice that Niklas Kronwall will replace White at the point on the top power-play unit.

Here are the lines they practiced with on Monday:

Cleary-Datsyuk-Holmstrom

Filppula-Zetterberg-Franzen

Hudler-Helm-Abdelkader

Miller-Emmerton-Eaves (Brunnstrom working in)

Lidstrom-Ericsson

Stuart-Smith (holding Kronwall's place)

Kindl-Commodore

Howard (starting Tuesday)

Conklin

Bertuzzi did not practice Monday. He has missed four games (swelling in ear, dizziness). He'll make the trip in hopes of practicing but probably won't be ready to play until the team returns home.

Kronwall was sick and didn't practice but Babcock said he will be ready for Tuesday. The Blues are 2-0-1 since Ken Hitchcock replaced Davis Payne as coach. They have recorded two shutouts in three games.